Work is underway to create a permanent memorial to Alan Henning in his home town of Eccles.
A tribute garden is being built at Eccles Recreational Ground – known locally as Eccles Rec – off Liverpool Road.
It which will feature a circular flower bed, planted with yellow flowers and plants, wooden sleepers painted yellow and two granite boulders bearing memorial plaques.
Taxi driver Alan was murdered by Isis fanatics in October 2014 after being captured by the terrorist group while on a volunteer humanitarian aid mission to Syria.
The 47-year-old, known as Gadget to his friends, is remembered with yellow ribbons which are still tied to lampposts and bollards in Eccles town centre.
Watch: Yellow ribbon tributes to Alan Henning appear in Eccles
Thousands of people lined the streets of Eccles in the wake of his death, with hundreds of taxi drivers taking part in a mass convoy from the AJ Bell Stadium to the town centre.
Watch: 400 cars and thousands join in to day of tributes to Alan Henning
Eccles Cross, near the town’s bus station, has become an unofficial memorial spot, where wellwishers from all over the country and across the globe have laid flowers, teddy bears and messages of hope.
But now a more permanent memorial to his memory will go ahead.
The circular garden is being created at Eccles Rec where hundreds of local residents held a moving candlelit vigil the weekend that news of Alan’s brutal killing was announced.
Watch: Candlelit vigil at Eccles Rec
Watch: Community hold candlelit vigil at Eccles Rec
Salford City Council, Urban Vision and the local Friends of Eccles group are working together to build and plant the garden as a lasting memorial to the cab driver turned humanitarian worker.
City Mayor Ian Stewart said: “Alan was a true son of Salford who was simply trying to help fellow human beings in desperate need.
“His senseless killing shocked everyone and Eccles is still decorated with yellow ribbons as a tribute to his bravery and humanity.
“We always wanted to create another permanent tribute to Alan, somewhere where people could pause to reflect and think of him, but wanted to be guided by Alan’s family as to when the time was right.
“They have now given their permission and we hope to see the garden open in the next few months.”
Vania Burnell from the Friends of Eccles Rec said: “Eccles Rec is a focal point for people in the community and as such we are honoured that Alan’s family have chosen the rec as a fitting place for a memorial.”
Jonathan Ellis, Director, Urban Vision said: “Alan was a courageous man; the loss to all those he helped and his family cannot be described. We wanted to create a tranquil and beautiful space where family, friends, Salford residents and beyond, can come and remember Alan and pay tribute to his life.
“When the garden opens in the coming months the yellow flowers will be in full bloom as a sign of both respect and celebration of Alan’s life and his contribution to ours.”
Donations of materials towards the garden have come from Dulux Decorators Centre Salford, P F Cusack of Westhoughton, Travis Perkins, Eccles, Hardscape Products Ltd, Bolton and Jotun Paints (Europe) Ltd of Scunthorpe.
